Siding: The Mardi Himal Exit Village and Why We End the Trek There

Last updated 6 October 2026.

Siding is where our Mardi Himal treks come down. It is a Gurung village at about 1,885 m on the eastern side of the Mardi ridge. You sleep there after the long descent from High Camp, and your vehicle meets you in the morning for the drive back to Pokhara. I plan it this way because you walk down a different line from the one you climbed, so you do not retrace your steps.

Where is Siding and why do we end the Mardi Himal trek there?

Siding is in Kaski District, in Gandaki Province. On some maps you will see it spelled Sidhing, in Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality. Our itineraries give its height as about 1,885 m, which is about 6,184 ft. Pokhara is 820 m.

The route goes up from the Pokhara side, through Kande, Australian Camp and Forest Camp, and comes down to Siding on the east side of the ridge. If you want the start of the route, read our Dhampus and Kande guide. If you want the whole route in one place, our Mardi Himal trek complete guide covers every stage from Kande to Siding.

Siding also sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. We arrange the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and the TIMS card for you. A licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS card are required on most trekking routes under the Nepal Tourism Board rule from 31 March 2023; the Everest (Khumbu) region does not enforce it locally, but we always trek with a licensed guide.

How high is Siding and how far do you descend to reach it?

High Camp is at 3,580 m and Siding is about 1,885 m, so the walk down loses about 1,695 m in one day. Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4,500 m, so over the last two days of walking you lose about 2,615 m. That is the biggest drop of the trek, and it is why I tell people the knees need more care than the lungs on this day.

Our Mardi Himal Base Camp guide and High Camp guide cover the top of the route. If you are choosing dates, read our Mardi Himal best time guide too, because the same descent feels very different in clear autumn air and in spring.

What is the day from High Camp to Siding like?

It is a 6 to 7 hour walk, and we call it the long descent. You leave High Camp on the ridge, pass Low Camp, and drop through rhododendron forest to Siding. On our 7-day trek the page lists about 14 km for the day. You take a different line from the way up, down the eastern side of the ridge, through country few trekkers see. The trail drops steeply through alpine meadow and then back into the forest that covers the lower slopes.

The descent is harder on the knees than the climb was on the lungs, and we strongly recommend trekking poles. Start slowly out of High Camp, keep your steps short on the steep sections and stop for water before your legs feel heavy. On Standard and Luxury, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. On Budget, trek meals are not included.

What is Siding like to stay in?

Siding is a Gurung village of terraced fields, with orange trees around it. After two nights at altitude, the warmer air at this height is a pleasant change. You stay in a teahouse, the food is cooked for you, and the evening is free. There is no viewpoint to climb and no early start to think about.

Your tier decides how you sleep. Budget means shared rooms, no porter, and you carry your own bag. Standard means private rooms, all trek meals and one porter for every two trekkers. Luxury means a private deluxe room, all meals plus fruit and nuts and unlimited soft drinks, and a dedicated porter for each trekker. A solo Standard trekker has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg.

How do you get from Siding back to Pokhara?

Your vehicle meets you at Siding and drives you through Gurung farming villages to Pokhara. It takes 3 to 4 hours. On our 7-day trek the drive is about 70 km and passes rice paddies on the way, then you spend the night in a Pokhara hotel. The next day is the 7 to 8 hour drive back to Kathmandu.

On the 5-day trek from Pokhara the trek ends when you reach your Pokhara hotel, and that hotel night is not included. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek tier either. We quote them separately.

Why not walk back down the way you came?

Because you would walk the same ground twice. On the way up you climb from Kande through Australian Camp, which is at 2,060 m, to Forest Camp at 2,520 m, then on to High Camp. Coming down the eastern side to Siding gives you new country on every day of the trek, and the vehicle can reach Siding, so you do not need a long second descent on foot.

How do you look after your knees on the descent?

Use trekking poles. Keep your steps short, do not lock your knees when you land, and let the poles take some of the load on the steep pitches. Lace your boots firmly at the heel. Drink little and often, and tell your guide at once if a knee starts to complain. A licensed guide walks with you on every trek and sets the pace, and on Standard and Luxury a porter carries the heavy bag so your legs only carry a daypack.

Which of our treks end at Siding?

Two of our treks do. The Mardi Himal Trek, 5 days from Pokhara goes Pokhara to Kande and Forest Camp on day 1, High Camp on day 2, Base Camp and back to High Camp on day 3, Siding on day 4, and the drive to Pokhara on day 5. It suits you if you are already in Pokhara and want the shortest full version.

The Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek, 7 days from Kathmandu covers the same ground with the drives to and from Kathmandu included. Day 5 is High Camp to Siding and day 6 is the drive to Pokhara. For tier prices read our Mardi Himal trek cost guide. If you are still choosing between short Annapurna treks, our Poon Hill and Mardi Himal comparison may help.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also trek solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

Questions people ask

Is Siding the same as Sidhing? Yes. Our itineraries write Siding, and some maps write Sidhing for the same place.

Do I sleep in Siding or drive the same day? You sleep in Siding. The walk takes 6 to 7 hours, and you drive to Pokhara the next morning.

What permits do I need? Siding is in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a TIMS card. We arrange both.

Is the descent or the ascent harder? Most trekkers find the climb tests the breathing and the descent tests the knees. The drop from High Camp to Siding is about 1,695 m, so poles and short steps make the difference.

Do I need insurance? Buy it at home before you travel, with helicopter rescue and evacuation cover to 5,000 m. We do not recommend buying insurance in Nepal.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.